COACHES PHILOSOPHY OF COACHES:

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1 C. In addition to the above requirements, the District Eligibility Chairperson may, as an added condition of eligibility, require that a transferring student submit a WIAA Previous School Statement. This form must be signed by the principal of the school from which the student has transferred, indicating the principal s approval of athletic eligibility for the transferring student. A copy of the signed form must be retained on file in the school office for the duration of the student s attendance at that school COACHES PHILOSOPHY OF COACHES: Coaches are primarily responsible for imparting valuable educational experiences to student participants. Therefore, the WIAA believes that all coaches should have training in at least the essential areas of study required for a physical education teacher's endorsement in Washington secondary schools and the NFHS Coaches Education Program. AFFIRMATION OF GOALS AND OF THE ASSOCIATION. THEREFORE: EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT - No school team or individual contestant shall be eligible to represent a school in an athletic contest unless the coach is an employee of the school district in which he/she coaches. This requirement applies to all paid and/or volunteer coaches. Volunteers become representatives of the District, and may serve as coaches, only upon registration, approval and authorization of the school district Board of Directors Coaching stipends and all gifts to a coach exceeding a total of $500 in a season must be approved by the school s board of directors SUPERVISION - A school appointed coach, or another appointed member of the school faculty, must accompany any school team (or individual) at any time in connection with school sponsored interscholastic competition TRAINING - Interscholastic coaches, paid and/or volunteer, shall have training in at least the essential areas of study required for a physical education teacher's endorsement in Washington secondary schools and the NFHS Coaches Education Program. For initial employment as a paid and/or volunteer interscholastic coach, an individual must meet the following requirements: COACHING REQUIREMENTS - Described below are the minimum standards for a paid and/or volunteer interscholastic coach for employment, progressive employment, and continuous employment. A. Hold a valid current First Aid Certification or have completed a School District approved Athletic Training/Sports Medicine course equivalent to the Red Cross First Aid Card training or be enrolled in a First Aid class. A Sports Medicine course is to include prevention of injuries, recognition of injuries, emergency on- site procedures including transporting the injured, and rehabilitation of injuries. If a Sports Medicine course is used to fulfill this requirement, it must be renewed every three (3) years. B. Hold a valid current hands- on CPR Certification or be enrolled in a hands- on CPR Course. C. Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches or Lifeguard Certification is required for all swim coaches. Red Cross Safety Training for Swim Coaches, U.S. Diving Safety certification or Lifeguard Certification is required for diving coaches. D. Hands on pole Vault Coaches Training is required for Pole Vault Coaches. Coaches must be recertified every three (3) years. E. Hands- on Stunt Certification is required for Cheer Coaches and dance/drill coaches who intend to have their cheer or dance/drill squad(s) perform stunts. The certification program must be approved by the Washington State Cheer Coaches Association, the Washington State Dance/Drill Coaches Association, or the WIAA. Coaches must be recertified every three (3) years. F. The Employing School District will require: 1. Washington State Patrol Criminal History Information Form required by RCW on file. 2. The OSPI Moral Character Supplement Form 4020B be completed. G. The Coach Must Satisfy the Following Requirements: 1. Be a high school graduate or have completed a graduation equivalency diploma (GED) program, except as in d. below a. Be at least 21 years of age to be a head coach. b. Be at least 19 years of age to be an assistant coach except as in d. below. c. Hold a valid current First Aid Certification and hands- on CPR Certification or be enrolled in a First Aid Certification and hands- on CPR Course. d. High school students may serve as middle level volunteer assistant coaches during the designated middle school season when under the WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 61

2 direct supervision of the middle level coach. These high school students must meet WIAA coaches standards minimum requirements to hold a valid First Aid Certification and a valid CPR card. 2. Head Coach - High School - Annually attend a WIAA approved rules clinic for the sport being coached, or pass the WIAA approved sports rules test required of officials for the sport being coached prior to the end of the third week of the sports season. a. DEFINITION OF A HEAD COACH - A head coach is that person in charge of the highest level team for that building (e.g.), the person responsible for the highest level (varsity) team in a building that houses grades is the head coach; the person who is responsible for the highest level team in a building that houses grades 7-9 is the head coach. 3. Head Coach - Middle Level - The WIAA recommends, but does not require, that the head coach at the middle level or junior high level annually attend a WIAA approved rules clinic or pass the WIAA approved sports rules test required of officials for the sport being coached ENTRY LEVEL COACH REQUIREMENTS (Paid and/or Volunteer Coaches) An entry level coach is in his/her first two (2) years of coaching employment. A. Paid Coaches: Before the beginning of the third year of coaching employment, a member school coach (paid or volunteer) must meet the entry level coaching standard by either completing the class and successfully passing the test of the ASEP Coaching Principles Course or the NFHS Coaches Fundamentals Course, or attending all sessions of the WIAA Coaches School or other Coaches Schools as approved by the WIAA or must have completed a total of at least thirty (30) hours of coaches education courses. A paid coach remains at the entry level and earns an additional fifteen (15) hours of coaching education courses within the next three (3) years of coaching and then advances to the continuous training level. (NOTE: Volunteer coaches are exempt from the continuous training standard.) B. Volunteer Coaches: Must complete a coaching effectiveness training class as provided by the WIAA or a school district approved coaching course equivalent to the ASEP Coaching Principles Course or the NFHS Coaches Fundamentals Course and approved by the WIAA, or complete a total of at least thirty (30) coaches education hours. Training must be completed before the beginning of the third year of coaching. Volunteer coaches are encouraged to obtain a minimum of fifteen (15) clock hours of coaching standard courses during any three (3) year period of coaching CONTINUOUS TRAINING LEVEL REQUIREMENTS (Paid Coaches) After completion of the entry coach level, during each subsequent three (3) year period of coaching, must obtain a minimum of fifteen (15) coaches education hours of approved coaches standards courses selected or prescribed by the employing school district shall be completed by all coaches. A. An individual who has earned a Physical Education major or minor and/or a Coaching major or is considered to have completed the WIAA Entry Coach Level requirements and shall only be required to meet the Continuous Training Level. B. An individual who coached 5 of 7 years prior to the school year, a cheer coach prior to the school year, or a dance- drill coach prior to the school year, shall be grand- fathered and is considered to have completed the WIAA Entry Coach level requirements shall only be required to meet the Continuous Training level PROGRESSIVE LEVELS OF COACHING STANDARDS- (OPTIONAL STATUS) Should an individual wish to work toward professional fulfillment in the coaching profession, he/she must earn 60 coaches education hours and have four (4) years of interscholastic coaching experience for the experienced coach level, and 90 clock hours and have six (6) years of interscholastic coaching experience for the preferred coach level EXPERIENCED COACH STANDARD (Optional status) A. Four years of interscholastic coaching, and a total of sixty (60) coaches education hours shall be completed from three (3) or more of the Coaching education areas. (Additional 30 course hours beyond Beginning Coach Standards). B. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of School District and WIAA Interscholastic Activities policies PREFERRED COACH STANDARD (Optional status) A. Six (6) years of interscholastic coaching and a total of ninety (90) coaches education hours shall be completed with a minimum of six (6) hours from each of the five coaches education categories listed below. (Additional 30 hours beyond the Experienced Coach level.) WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 62

3 B. Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of School District and WIAA Interscholastic Activities policies COACHES EDUCATION CATEGORIES (Knowledge and Skills) A. Medical aspects of coaching - Health and Welfare 1. Care and Prevention of student injury a. First Aid b. CPR Certification c. Athletic Training/Sports Medicine d. Chemical and Substance Abuse e. Injury Rehabilitation 2. Kinesiology 3. Exercise Physiology B. Legal Aspects of Coaching - Litigation, Liability 1. School Physical Education, Sports, or Athletic Law 2. Annual review of rule changes and application of rules 3. School Board Policies, WIAA Rules, School Law C. Psycho/Social Foundations 1. Sociology and Psychology of Sports (adolescent psychology, sports sociology and psychology, motivation, dealing with substance abuse.) 2. Philosophy of Interscholastic Activities Programs D. Coaching Techniques 1. Instructional methods in physical education/activities 2. Instructional methods in physical education for handicapped 3. Instructional methods in interscholastic sports E. Philosophy/Sports Management/Pedagogy Providers of clock hours - Upon WIAA approval of course outline and instructor, coaching education clock hours may be obtained from an accredited university or college, WIAA- approved offering or an OSPI named provider COACHES EDUCATION COMPLIANCE Each school year, schools will report coaching standards compliance for all paid and/or volunteer coaches, at both the high school and middle school levels. A school will be in compliance if eighty percent (80%) of their coaches meet coaching education standards. A school will provide a plan of action to have all coaches in coaching education compliance. A. First year of non- compliance, a school is placed on probation for one year and a letter is sent to the school s Superintendent, Principal and Athletic Director. B. Second year of non- compliance, schools are required to meet with the Regional Facilitator and WIAA Staff to develop a compliance plan that may include mandatory attendance at the WIAA Coaches School or completion of the NFHS Coaching Principles Course. C. Third year of non- compliance, leagues/wiaa Districts/WIAA Executive Board action could include loss of right to participate in post- season play SHARED COACHING - The WIAA Executive Director may approve shared coaching in diving, pole vaulting and gymnastics that have been determined to pose a safety or health concern for student athletes due to the qualifications or lack thereof of available coaching staff. Prior to approval the following criteria must be documented or verified to the Executive Director by the requesting member school: A. The requesting school district has determined no qualified coaching is available, and the shared coach is qualified and approved (employed) by the local school district in compliance with Coaching Standards as set forth by the WIAA. B. The "specialized" program must be made available to all athletes in that event (e.g., under the safety purposes of this permissive rule, if a school sends one pole vaulter to a shared coach, the school must send all pole vaulters from the school). C. Coaching will be only during the WIAA adopted season for the sport. D. Approval must be requested with each two (2) year classification period WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 63

4 NEGATIVE COMMENTARY/BY COACHES AND/OR OFFICIALS - The WIAA prohibits negative commentary or statements to the media or general public in any form relative to officiating prior to, during, or following any interscholastic activity or athletic event. This rule applies equally to members of the Washington Officials Association relative to coaching tactics or administrative responsibilities OFFICIALS The control, supervision and regulation of school officials shall be under the direction of the Washington Officials Association or any other voluntary nonprofit entity REGISTERED OFFICIAL - A registered official is properly enrolled with the Washington Officials Association, has paid the appropriate association/board dues and is eligible to officiate sub- varsity interscholastic contests only CERTIFIED OFFICIAL - A Certified official is a registered official who has attended a WIAA/WOA rules clinic for that sport, has attended the required number of association/board meetings, passed the sport rules test, has an acceptable criminal history background check form on file, and is eligible to officiate ANY and all levels of interscholastic competition REQUIRED NUMBER OF OFFICIALS - The WIAA Executive Board supports the number of officials required by the National Federation Rulebook for that sport. If a league elects to use less than the required number of officials, each school in that league assumes all liability and responsibility as such USE OF REGISTERED OFFICIALS - The Washington Officials Association registers officials in baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, soccer, softball, spirit, volleyball and wrestling. Only officials registered with the Washington Officials Association or have reciprocity through another state officials association are eligible to officiate regularly scheduled contests for all sports and at all levels of play sanctioned by WIAA School representatives do not have the authority to solicit officials directly for contests. All assignments must be made by and through the appropriate assigning secretary for the respective officials association/board STUDENTS AS OFFICIALS - A student shall not be used as an official unless the student is a member of the Washington Officials Association in that sport. A student may be employed by his/her school, a recreational department, or community as a sport official without jeopardizing his/her amateur standing PROCEDURE TO USE NON- REGISTERED OFFICIALS - Should schools find it necessary to use non- registered officials, permission may be granted. In such event, application must be made to the WIAA Executive Director well in advance of the date of the contest. The required procedure for requesting use of non- registered official is as follows: A. Date of contest(s) and officials to be used should accompany the request. B. Documented consent of the other school approving the officials to be used should be obtained in advance of the contest(s). C. Request sent to the WIAA Executive Director in advance of the contest In emergency situations when (1) An official s association/board is unable to supply officials for a particular schedule or individual contest, or (2) the scheduled official fails to show up, an official may be selected from a pool of individuals who have met the following criteria: A. Passed the current National Federation rules test for that particular sport; or B. Completed the WIAA/WOA online rules clinic for that particular sport Requests to use non- registered officials will not be approved when rationale for such a request is based solely on finances. The responsibility and liability for selection and use of any non- registered official, as an employee of the school, become that of the school For middle level only, following approval by the appropriate Board or Association, A. Individual schools may opt to schedule non- registered officials for any contest with league approval. B. In the event that scheduled officials (registered or non- registered) fail to show up for contests, non- registered officials, including personnel in attendance at the contest, may be used with the approval of both coaches and/or athletic directors OFFICIALS REFUSING TO SERVE - Officials refusing to serve schools or accept assignment, or an association/board refusing to serve member schools of their service area shall be disqualified from consideration for tournament assignments OFFICIALS ELIGIBLE FOR STATE TOURNAMENTS - A certified official is eligible to be nominated to a state tournament during any given year Any official nominated for a state tournament must meet the following criteria: A. Must be recommended by the local association/board WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 64

5 B. Must have officiated the minimum number of high school varsity contests during the regular season as established for that sport. C. Must officiate a post season event in that sport prior to the state tournament. D. Must be available to officiate throughout the duration of the tournament COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LEAGUES AND OFFICIALS ASSOCIATIONS/BOARDS - The WIAA and WOA recommend that athletic leagues have meetings prior to the opening of their seasons to which they invite representatives of the officials association/board that serves them so that they might discuss mutual areas of concern WIAA DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON OFFICIALS - The WIAA/WOA recommend that each WIAA District have a standing committee on the issues of officials and officiating The WIAA and WOA recommends that each WIAA District appoint a committee of three (3) to work with a committee of three (3) from the local officials association/board on mutual areas of concern AGREEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE - The Agreement Review Committee is comprised of four (4) board members from the Washington Officials Association and four (4) board members from the WIAA Executive Board approved by the respective boards Recommendation for changes in officiating fees, expenses or any other regulation for any or all sports must be submitted to the Agreement Review Committee in writing by October 1. The Committee will review, act on the request(s) and submit recommendation(s) to the WIAA and WOA Executive Boards Recommendation for changes in fees, expenses or other regulations for any sport(s) may be initiated by member school, leagues, WIAA districts, WOA associations/boards All statewide supplemental fees or expenditures must be first submitted to the Agreement Review Committee DETERMINING OFFICIALS' FEES - There shall be a re- examination of the established fee schedules every two (2) years by the Agreement Review committee to coincide with the classification/allocation cycle The recommendations of the Agreement Review Committee shall be reported to the WIAA Executive Board Changes in officials' fee schedule are to be approved by the WIAA and WOA Executive Boards The officials' fees for all league playoffs and district competition will be $5.00 more than paid during the regular season in that classification for those sports that have registered officials and established fees, with the exception of gymnastics, spirit and wrestling The official s fees for all state competition will be $7.00 more than the 4A fee paid during the regular season OFFICIALS MILEAGE - Round- trip mileage will be paid at the rate established by the WIAA Executive Board for standing and special committee members. Mileage for any school year shall be consistent with the allowed amount set by the IRS at the beginning of the fiscal year The number of vehicles required to supply officials for contest will be negotiated between school/leagues and the officials associations/boards OFFICIALS FEES - Established fees for middle level and high school regular season and high school state tournament/meets are listed in Appendix QUALIFYING EVENTS AND STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - State championships for member schools shall be permitted only in those varsity sports that have been approved by a sixty (60) percent majority vote of the Representative Assembly The determination of the number of WIAA sponsored tournaments and the number of entries to a tournament shall be based on the percentage of member high schools in each classification. The following criteria in determining tournament formats will apply to all classifications: A. 0-29% schools shall have no tournament for that activity or classification. B % schools enrolled shall be provided a tournament of eight (8) teams/entries beginning the first year of an allocation period. C. 60% or more schools enrolled shall be provided a tournament of sixteen (16) teams/entries, beginning the first year of an allocation period. NOTE: When classifications are combined, the percentages in B & C will be divided by the number of classifications that are combined Once approved, a state tournament will be held for both years of an allocation period The number of state tournaments may be reduced when the number of participating schools decreases and the proper number of state tournaments reassigned The number of schools participating in a sports activity during the first year of the classification/allocation cycle will be the basis for determining the number of tournaments WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 65

6 By using the Allocation Formula (Article ), the WIAA Executive Board shall determine allocations based on the average monthly enrollment as reported during the classification year. In cases of fractional team representation in WIAA Districts, the WIAA Executive Board is empowered to make decisions regarding fractional representation ALLOCATION CALCULATIONS STEPS and CRITERIA A. The allocation factor is derived from the schools participating in a sport or activity. 1. The WIAA Executive Board and District Directors verify the member school participation summary. The participation summary is based upon the information supplied by the member schools on the WIAA membership form. 2. TEAM - Definition - A team is defined as the minimum number of participants required for full participation/scoring in that sport. a. For team and individual sports, the program is counted for allocation purposes if the member school participates in varsity competition during the regular season and postseason competition in that sport. For individual sports, a school must attain a roster of at least the number listed below at end of the third week of the fall sports season and at the end of the second week during the winter and spring sports seasons during the first year of the allocation cycle. SPORT ROSTER NUMBER REQUIRED FOR ALLOCATIONS Bowling 5 Cross Country 5 Golf 5 Gymnastics 5 Swimming 4 Tennis 3 Track 5 Wrestling, Boys 8 Wrestling, Girls 7 3. Combined programs are counted as one (1) school. B. Determine the two (2) year allocations using the school factor. C. The whole numbers are added, with the additional allocations determined from the fractional allocations (largest to smallest fractional allocation) until all tournament entries are filled. 1. Ties will be assigned as an entry of both Districts. a. WIAA will assign all allocations in the case of ties. b. In the case of a fractional tie (if shared allocations are not possible) the allocation will be assigned to the entity with the District with the largest enrollment. 2. Combining of two (2) or more Districts is to be done by adding the ideal allocation numbers. a. The Districts will be combined if the one (1) year allocation is less than 0.8 or if the two (2) year allocation is less than For odd numbered allocations over the two (2) year cycle, the following steps will be used: a. Highest whole number receives the highest number of entries during the first year. b. Highest fraction receives the highest number of entries during the first year. D. Adjustments may be made to allocations no later than Friday of the third week of a sports season provided verification has been submitted to the WIAA Executive Director that a school omission or addition to a league/district count would result in altered allocations. E. Adding or Deleting a Sport - A school that adds or deletes a sport after submitting the annual enrollment form must submit the change in writing to the Executive Director, with copies sent to the WIAA District Director and league representative. The league is the overseer of schools within its jurisdiction and responsible to communicate with the District Director on all allocation information and league entries WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 66

7 1. Adding or deleting a sport during the first three weeks of a season during the first year of a two- year allocation cycle may effect a change in tournament allocations. 2. Adding or deleting a sport after the first three weeks of a season during the first year of a two- year allocation cycle will not change tournament allocations. 3. Violations of, or failure to comply with, the above procedures shall result in the following: a. The first school violation will result in a probation warning to the individual school regarding all programs and a specific fine double the annual fee for the sport not reported for that school year. b. The first league violation will place all schools in the league in that specific sport on probation. c. The second school violation within the school year will result in denial of entry into District play- offs in all sports for that year. d. The second league violation will result in a penalty assessed by the Executive Board in accordance with Article Management, sites, dates and other details for all regional and state tournaments shall be determined by the WIAA Executive Board Revenue from these tournaments shall accrue to WIAA as determined by the WIAA Executive Board Playoffs and tournaments shall be governed by regulations adopted by the WIAA Executive Board The 1B and 2B State Football Championships will be played in conjunction with other football championships at the selected championship site When there is an eight (8)- team football tournament to determine a state champion, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be played on consecutive weekends beginning the thirteenth week of the season At the site of any WIAA State Tournament the advertising and or posting of signs and or the distribution of announcements shall be limited to only those events sanctioned or conducted by the WIAA. Any distribution of notices or announcements advertising non- WIAA events shall be prohibited at the site of any WIAA sponsored tournament DISTRICT REPRESENTATION IN STATE TOURNAMENTS - District representation in state tournaments shall be determined by the application of the Allocation Formula (Article ), except as otherwise determined by the WIAA Executive Board as listed in each sports section The deadline for determining district entries to state tournaments shall be midnight Saturday prior to the week of the state- level events The WIAA District is the original authority for determining the method by which entries that are allocated to that district qualify for state tournaments or state meets In the event that a dispute arises within a WIAA District/Region involving the method of qualifying for state tournaments or state meets, final authority rests with the WIAA Executive Board Individuals and teams that qualify for a state qualifying event must compete unless exempted by the appropriate level By entering participants in a state championship event, each member school certifies that, barring injury, illness or unforeseen events, the team or individuals representing the school will participate in every competition that is part of that championship event, until the final conclusion of the event Any withdrawal or intentional forfeiture shall be considered a violation of WIAA rules and regulations, and shall be subject to penalties as determined by the WIAA Executive Board Any district not using allocations must notify the WIAA office at the beginning of that sport season. The WIAA Executive Board may reallocate unused allocations FOR DISTRICTS WITH ONLY ONE (1) ALLOCATION If a District has only one (1) allocation in the first and/or second year of the allocation period, that District would be allowed to petition to the WIAA Executive Board for the opportunity to combine with another District to gain an additional allocation provided the minimum number of schools in the District offer the program in question. The number of schools that drive an allocation, plus one, will be the number needed to provide the opportunity for a second individual or team from a district to qualify for postseason play. The deadline for the appeal shall be two (2) weeks after the allocations have been finalized The WIAA District geographically closest to the District with one (1) allocation would be considered first in the possible combination of District allocations The combination agreement would specify that either District involved would have the potential to gain or to lose the allocation WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 67

8 The WIAA District with more than one (1) allocation may choose to protect its number one (1) team, and/or additional allocations as applicable, and offer only the lowest allocation in a playoff with the District appealing for an additional allocation WIAA EXECUTIVE BOARD MUST APPROVE ALL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS The WIAA Executive Board must approve all District agreements involving shared allocations INDEPENDENT TEAM S ACCESS TO POSTSEASON COMPETITION - If a WIAA member school s team(s) chooses not to become a member(s) of a league, that member school s team(s) may play an independent schedule. The placement of that team(s) for postseason play will be determined by the WIAA Executive Board, unless such access is provided by a league or district. Should the WIAA Executive Board be required to place an independent team in postseason competition, consideration would be given to that team s record against varsity competition of schools of the same classification or of a higher classification. Each team s schedule(s) must be submitted to the affected leagues, WIAA Districts and WIAA office. In order to qualify for postseason play, a team s record against such competition must be equal to or better than the team receiving the lower(est) berth from that league/district. If this criteria is met, the independent team will be allowed to challenge for this berth through direct competition SUBSTITUTION OF PLAYERS IN POSTSEASON QUALIFYING AND STATE TOURNAMENTS - When a team qualifies for postseason competition, the school shall submit the roster to the appropriate tournament manager. Changes in the roster are permitted from one (1) level of competition to the next level except in baseball, football and soccer where changes are allowed between each round of play. (Example: Changes may be made from the league to the District qualifying event, or from the District qualifying event to the State event, or from the first round to the second round). No changes are permitted at that level once the tournament begins In the event of an emergency or catastrophe after the tournament begins, team members may be replaced if approved by the tournament manager, WIAA Executive Director or designee, thereby permitting a school to add eligible players to restore the team to the original number for tournament play FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD TIE- BREAKING PROCEDURES WIAA Article allows for a maximum of four (4) quarters of play during a three- day (3) period. Teams that play on Thursday and again on Saturday would only be permitted to utilize the Kansas Tie- Breaker on Saturday. Teams would not be permitted to play shortened quarters on Saturday prior to the Kansas Tie- Breaker RESCHEDULING OF STATE EVENTS DUE TO OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH - Should a team that recognizes the Saturday Sabbath be involved in a WIAA state basketball tournament, and should the team, due to bracketing, play during the time that the Saturday Sabbath is observed, a semifinal game would be moved from Friday evening to Friday afternoon. Any Saturday consolation games would be moved to a later time that evening, and the championship game would be played during the later game time. Individuals who observe the Sabbath on teams will not be accommodated at team events TEAMS/INDIVIDUALS UNABLE TO ARRIVE FOR SCHEDULED COMPETITION AT A CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT [Inclement Weather (policy #51.13)] - The WIAA Executive Board and executive staff believe that all teams/individuals earning the right to participate in championship events should have those rights protected as much as possible. The WIAA Executive Board and executive staff also recognize the efforts of all participants to attend the championship events. The participating schools must also realize that these events are held to certain restrictions with facilities, game officials, and all other game administration. A WIAA championship event shall be defined as regional and state competition. The competing school is responsible for notifying the WIAA office or the event manager, if the school is having difficulty traveling to the event site due to weather or a clear area- wide emergency and may not arrive in time for the scheduled event(s). Notification shall be made as soon as possible after it becomes evident that the team/individual is having difficulty. School personnel have the responsibility of making alternative travel plans to tournament sites based upon weather forecasts and any other pertinent information. As a common practice, input and recommendations are to be sought from the Highway Patrol and/or the Department of Transportation. Specific circumstances not covered by this policy are left to the discretion of the WIAA Executive Director or designee. A. If a team/individual is unable to arrive at a championship event site for its scheduled competition due to circumstances beyond its control (e.g., an earthquake, all passes closed, roads closed due to flooding, etc,) that team/individual will be allowed to participate in its scheduled event provided it arrives at the event site and is able to compete on the day of its scheduled event. The WIAA Executive Director, in cooperation with the event manager, shall adjust the schedule of the event for the purpose of allowing maximum participation for all qualified schools. If the team/individual is unable to arrive to compete on the day of its event, a forfeit is recorded and that team/individual shall move into the consolation bracket or be dropped from competition, whichever is applicable to the particular event WASHINGTON INTERSCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION HANDBOOK 68